Adjusting mechanism for the slats of blinds.



G. W. LANCASTER.

ADJUSTING MECHANISM FOR THE SLATS OF BLINDS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 11, 1913. 1,087,785. Patented Feb. 17, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH C0., WASHINGTON. D. c.

G. W. LANCASTER.

ADJUSTING MECHANISM FORTHE SLATS OF BLINDS. APPLIGATI ON FILED JAN. 11, 1913.

1,087,785. Patented Feb. 17,1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

COLUMBIA PLANQGRAPH CO.. WASHINGTON D c a'rnn'r nice.

GEORGE WASHINGTON LANCASTER, 0F RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR TO UNL VERSAL SCREEN AND BLIND COMPANY, INCORPORATED, A CHARTERED COMPANY OF VIRGINIA.

ADJUSTING MECHANISM FOR THE SLATS OF BLINDS.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Greece Wasrrmeron Liiivoasrnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Richmond, in the county of lilenrico and State of Virginia, have in-' vented new and useful Improvements in Adjusting Mechanism for the Slate of .ulinds, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a combination window shutter and scr en device and the operating means therefor, particularly with respect to improvements upon the device disclosed in my pending application for Letters Patent, Serial Number 724,132, filed Oct. 5, 1912, said means relating specifically to the means for adjusting the slats of the blinds employed, and to other improvements as will be disclosed hereinafter; the objects being to provide simple and effective means for the purposes intended, and at the same time construct such parts as can be manufactured at moderate cost and prove durable in use.

The improvements are illustrated in drawings accompanying this application, and of such drawings, briefly: Figure 1 is an elevation illustrating a window-frame and the improvements in connection therewith, the view being taken from the interior of the f ame; Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the parts of Fig. 1 taken on line 22 thereof; F 3 is a fragmentary view looking toward the inner edge of one of the frames employed; Fig. l is a view partly in side elevation and partly in section illustrating the actuating device for the slat adjusting means in connection with the elongated slot provided in the frame; Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross sectional view through fragments of the shutter and frame showing the slat adjusting means in plan; Fig. 6 is a view taken on line 66 of Fig. l; Fig. 7 is a detail view illustrating the connection of the slat shiftin lever with the adjusting means; Fig. 8 is a detail illustrating the slat engaging bracket and associated parts of the shifting means; Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view partly in section illustrating the locking means for the frames; and Fig. 10 is a detail sectional view illustrating said locking means.

In the drawings, like reference characters Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 11, 1913.

Patented Feb. 17, 1914..

Serial No. 741,582.

designate like or similar parts throughout the several views thereof.

Referring generally to the drawings, A designates a window-frame and B the window sashes slidable therein. The frames of the combined screen and shutter device, a plurality of which are shown by way of example, are generally designated 0 being pivoted by hinges D to the window-frame. The shutters employed are designated E and hinged at F to the frame C. Means is shown for opening and closing the shutters at G and latch means for fastening the shutters to the frames is shown at H. These parts briefly referred to are the same or equivalent of those set forth in my pending application Serial Number 724,132 referred to, and as these parts are fully described and claimed in said pending application, it is unnecessary to specifically describe them here.

It is to be noted that adjacent the lower portion of the frames C that boards or the equivalent 1 are provided so as to provide effective and substantial means to which the latch and operating means may be fastened.

Each section has provided thereon at the lower end thereof, a baseboard 2 and the meeting edges of the complementary baseboards are cut on a diagonal line at at 2, so that a single fastening means mounted on one of the base-boards will sutlice to fasten the plurality. These base-boards are considerably wider than the device and form means to which the fastening means referred to may be effectively fastened. Referring specifically to this device designated J, a sleeve or cylinder 3 is provided and driven friction tight into an opening provided in one of the base-boards 2. is slidably mounted a plunger having a rounded head 4- and a stem 5. The stem 5 extends through one end of the cylinder 3 and beyond the same is provided with screw threads 6 adapted to be engaged by the screw threads of an opening provided on the knob 7. A spiral spring 8 is mounted within the cylinder 3 and bears against the head 4 and the closed end of said cylinder, and serves to maintain the plunger normally projected. The plunger head cotiperates with a keeper plate 9 faste ed as by screws 10 to the sill of the window-frame which may be designated K. This plate 9 is as In the cylinder shown, arranged on an incline or slantingly, and provided with a keeper opening or socket at 11. When the frames are swung inwardly, as they do and as set forth in the pending application referred to, the rounded head t will ride upon the plate 9 and by reason of the inclination of the plate, the head at will be moved interior of the cylinder against the tension of spring 8 therein. lVhen the frames are properly closed, head 1 will be opposite the opening 11 and spring 8 will thereupon expand and force head a into engagement with the keeper opening or socket 11.

A ortion of the shutters is provided with a plurality of slats 12 which are pivoted in the usual manner at 13 to the rails thereof designated 14. The pivot member of one of the slats is 'emoved and to the slat at said end is fastenechas by means of screws 15, a bracket of suitable shape designated 16. This bracket has provided thereon a stem 17 which has a rounded portion or trunnion having a rotatable bearing in the adjacent rail 1% of the shutter. The last mentioned rail 1 1- has a rabbeted tongue 18 to engage the frame supporting the same. '1 he rounded portion of stem 17 forms one pivot for the slat to which it is attached. into the portion rabbeted extends a squared end portion 19 of the stem 17. Squared portion 19 passes through a squared opening in an arm 20 arranged at right angles to the stem which is located mostly within the space intermediate the shutter and the screen, which latter may be designated 21. Beyond the arm 20 a suitable fastening member is provided to engage the stem 17 for the purpose of preventing disengagement of the arm and stem, and may consist of a cotter pin such as 22.

Each inner rail of the frames is desig nated 23 and is rabbeted as at 2 1 to provide a channel which will permit the necessary and effective movement of the means for shifting the arm 20 and now to be described.

A slidable device is employed and consists of plates 25 and 26 arranged on opposite sides of a rabbet or flange of rail 23. This rabbet is provided with a vertical elongated slot 27. Into said slot extend studs 28 which may be cast integral with the plate 25, and which have suitable projections 29 adapted to extend through suitable openings in plate 6 and the projecting portion thereof receive removable fastening members such as cotter pins 29. In a suitable opening in plate 26 is adapted to slide a plunger 27 which is engaged by a fork or bifurcated part 30 of arm 20. To plunger 27 is secured a stem 31 which extends slidably through an opening in plate 25 and beyond the same receives an actuating knob 32, the stem 31 being provided with screw threads to engage screw threads of said knob. Surrounding stem 31 is a coil spring 33 which bears against the plunger 27 and plate 25, serving to normally maintain the plunger 27 projected and in engagement with the fork, and specifically in the open end slot formed by the arms of the fork. It is to be noted that the knobs 32 extend into the channel provided by the grooves 2t, and that said channel affords sutlicient space for proper manipulation of the knobs and associated parts. It is to be further noted that by the provision of the fork, that upon the shutter being opened, that the fork will disengage the plunger 27. The open end of arm 20 at some adjustments, when the shutter is closed will not aline with the plunger 21. For this reason the plunger is made retractable and the plunger is usually retracted upon the closing of the shutter. Bi ter the shutter is closed the plunger and associated parts are slid or adjusted to proper position to aline the open-end slot and plunger, whereupon the plunger is released so that its spring forces the same into the open-end slot. Thereafter upon sliding of the plunger, through engagement of the same with the arm at the bifurcated end of arm 20, causes the arm 20 to shift the slats.

in operation, knob 32 is manually engaged so as to move the slidable device in a vertical plane either upwardly or downwardly according to whether it is desired to open or close the slats of the blinds. Through such sliding movement, arm 20 by the en a ement of lun 'er 27 with the fork thereof tilts, and accordingly tilts or shifts the slat 12 to which bracket 16 is fastened. All of the slats are flexibly fastened to a suitable rod such as 34 and hence the movement of the one slat referred to, will be transmitted to each of the slats and cause them to move simultaneously. By means of the spring and rod mounting of plunger 27, the same can be retracted to disengage the fork 30 when desired. hen retracting the plunger, spring 33 will be compressed, and when released the spring will restore the plunger to proper position.

it is to be noted that with such a construction as the one described, that the screening 21 is not pierced or passed through by any of the various parts.

Changes such as fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims are reserved.

Having thus described my said invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In adjusting mechanism for a pivoted slat, in combination with a shutter having said slat, and with a frame with respect to which said shutter turns, a trunnion.memher on said slat, a shifting member fastened to said trunnion member provided with an enlarged slot, and a shiftable device for turning said member and accordingly turning the slat having a retractable member entering said slot.

2. in adjusting mechanism for a pivoted slat, in combination with a shutter having said slat and with a frame with respect to which said shutter turns, a trunnion fastened to said slat, an arm fastened to said trunnion provided with a fork providing an enlarged slot, a slidable device on said frame for shifting said arm comprising distance plates, a plunger slidable in one of said plates and entering said slot, a stem 011 said plunger extending slidably through the other of said plates, a knob engaging said stem beyond said latter plate, and a coil spring bearing against said plunger mounted intermediate the same and one of said plates.

8. In adjusting machanism for a pivoted slat, in combination with a shutter having said slat and a frame with respect to which said shutter turns, a rail of said frame provided with an elongated slot, an arm fastened to said slat, a slidable device on said frame to shift said arm having side plates, one of said side plates arranged on each of the opposite sides of the rail, and fastening means for said side plates extending into said slot both connecting the side plates together and the device to the rail, and limiting the extent of movement of said device.

t. In adjusting mechanism for a pivoted slat in combination with a shutter having said slat and with a frame with respect to which said shutter turns, a rail of said frame provided with an elongated slot, an arm fastened to said slat, slidable means to shift said arm carried by the frame having plates, a projection engaging said arm carried by said plates, and studs carried by said plates one on opposite sides of said projection, and said studs entering said elongated slot serving to connect the plates and to limit the movement of said slidable device.

In combination with pivoted slat, in combination with a shutter having said slatand with a frame with respect to which said shutter turns, a bracket fastened to one of said slats having a stem forming a pivot therefor, an arm fastened to said stem at an angle thereto provided with a fork defining an open end slot, in combination with a rail of said frame having an elongated slot, a slidable device on said frame to shift said arm comprising side plates, a retractable plunger device carried by said plates and engageable in said slot of the lever, studs carried by said plates, one on opposite sides of said plunger device, said studs connecting said plates and extending into said elongated slot to limit sliding movement of said slidable device.

(3. In combination with a frame having a rail, a shutter carried by said frame, a rail of said shutter, simultaneously operable pivoted slats of said shutter, a bracket fasteiied to one of said slats having a stem eX- tending through the rail of said shutter providing a pivot for said slat, an arm fastened to said stem having a fork defining an open end slot, in combination with a frame relatively to which said shutter turns, a slidable device carried by said last mentioned frame for shifting said arm comprising side plates, a plunger device carried by said plates and extending into said slot, studs carried by said plates one on opposite sides of said plunger device, said studs connecting said plates, said rail of the frame provided with an elongated slot and with a channel, said plunger device having an actuating member extending into said channel, said channel providing a space to facilitate operation of the slidable device, said studs extending into said elongated slot and serving to limit the sliding movement of said slidable device in addition to serving as a connecting means for said plates.

GEORGE WASHINGTON LANCASTER.

Witnesses WV. H. Mn'rzenn, P. H. EUBANK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

